I read the sticky and have installed numerous things in the past to an S10 I had (efan, direct battery headlights, 4 tone horn, numerous foglights and LED lights, wire in my own cruise control system, extra brake lights, extra reverse lights, hardwire in radar detector, etc) but it was alot of those lets do this one mod and make it work - after about 6 of those you have wires and relays mounted going all over and cant get enough ring terminals on posts.

SO

Im not doing that fiasco again and want to do it right and clean with labels so I know WTF relay does what.

Where is the best place to put and or get battery power and key on power under the hood? Has anyone added a power distributon strip somewhere? Where is a good place to add a bunch of small paddle switches?

 

In the engine bay is the best place to mount relays, depending on what they are for of course.

You control relays in cars using the GROUND side of relays coil, not 12volt side.

So you only need 1 wire per relay into the cab, and use cab ground.

There are key on and full time fuses in engine bay fuse box, which ones depends on the year of the Ranger.

Relays have coil terminals 85 and 86
And Load terminals 30 and 87

If you have 30 as the FUSED 12volts for the LOAD then jumper that to to terminal 86
Terminal 85 would be the ground wire into your Cab switch, when grounded that relay closes.
terminal 30 could be full time 12v or key on 12v, doesn't matter.

If you will have several relays and a mix of full time and key on choices then use a separate relay for the Key on power.
Run wire from battery or two, with inline fuses for LOAD AMPS, you have to figure out LOAD AMPS for the device you are powering
Full time power is easy
For key on power look for Red wire at MAF sensor, easiest to find, splice into that wire and run it to "Key on Relay" terminal 86, then Ground terminal 85, full time ground.
Relay only draws .5amp so won't blow EEC fuse

When key is in RUN position that relay would close and send power to any other Key on relays you need.

 

Yea Ive wired alot of the standard Bosch style automtive relays. I know i want them inside the engine bay out of the weather. I've found several OK spots under the hood to put them. Reason i asked was my s10 from the factory had a #2 cable from battery to a power strip on the passenger fender that then had a series of terminals and ring terminals to various things - plenty of threads so slap a few more ring terminals on there and made for a pretty clean install thats easy to get to.

Ive been looking inside the cab and haven't found a good clean looking spot to mount all the dang switches. Ive seen a pic of someone having a double din to single din radio mount that had a flat blank off plate VS a cubby hole. Mine has the cubby hole and its useless so I need to find that flat plate style I think or make one to fit. Im guessing I need at least 4. (efan override, 2 separate LED light systems in the front, 1 more set for reverse facing)

Ill get it figured out!